Re: [Paddlewise] stuff on deck

inetex wrote:

> >The cover of the June issue of Sea Kayaker shows two decks loaded with
> >packs, sleeping pads, etc.  Surely this must seriously compromise the
> >handling of the boats, especially in wind.  Has anyone tried to roll with
> >decks loaded high with stuff?
> >
> >I think it would be better to get a larger volume boat and keep the decks
> >clear.  Or take your narrow boat for shorter trips.
> >
> >Jerry
> 
> As most of you regular subscribers know, I was one of the three rescued off
> the Storm Islands in the middle of Queen Charlotte Sound/Straight during
> our attempted off-season crossing in early April. The fellow who had the
> most difficulty, even prior to his rudder-slider breakage during the
> crossing, had a wide, stable boat full of gear and extra food. The boat
> weighed a ton. If that wasn't bad enough, he had a home-made paddlefloat on
> his rear deck. It was essentially a large foam cushion custom-covered in
> vinyl, about 15" x 8" x 20". Additionally, he had a *very* large duffle bag
> with more extraneous gear, also on the back deck of his already high volume
> touring kayak. The other fellow was paddling an Arluk 1.8 and I was in my
> low volume Nordkapp. There was no comparison between the two performance
> boats as compared to the higher-than-high windage problems being
> encountered by the paddler of the larger kayak with deck load.

Deck loads should be avoided no matter how stable a boat.  If you can't
get it inside, then don't bring it.  Windage is a potential problem as
is being hit by breaking waves that will just flip the boat when they
hit such a large surface area.

One of the folding kayak companies, which shall remain nameless, had a
photo on the cover of its slick brochure picturing someone paddling
among small ice floes.  On his back _and_ front decks were huge deck
loads piled up about at least 18 inches and running several feet in
length.  A disaster waiting to happen.

Another image I have is of something I didn't see but heard about.  In
the late 1980s, the round-Manhattan trip had among the participants two
guys in a double Klepper.  It is usually a great boat for that trip, but
these guys had a full cooler lashed on their back deck.  Obviously they
could not get that inside even a boat as cavernous as the Klepper. 
Picture this: a heavy cooler (ice and  beverages weigh a lot) on top of
the deck _and_ a boat otherwise loaded underdeck and inside the cockpit
with just day stuff for a summer paddle trip.  Its center of gravity was
raised so high that the boat flipped near the Battery tip of Manhattan
within two miles or so of the put-in.  The Coast Guard had to pull them
out.

I heard that story from the leader a few years later who still was
kicking himself for not putting his foot down and saying "no" to them. 
I also heard the story from the commercial interests who cited it for a
long time as an example as to why kayaks and canoes should be curtailed
in their use of these waters.

> 
> I will never again travel an open coastal section of a trip or attempt
> crossings with someone with such diametrically opposed style, setup of
> gear, and overall philosophy to open water paddling. That's not snobbery,
> its just plain prudence. Unfortunately, I knew this was going to be a
> problem when we started our trip, so the flames should come my way for
> going along.

Yes, you should kick yourself some.  But it is so easy to fall into
going against your own best judgment.  I don't know of anyone who hasn't
done so.  Obviously, as the stakes and dangers increase, it is even more
important to say no and to pick your company with more of a critical
eye.  But as the beverage cooler incident above shows, the line may have
to be drawn even in more benign situations.
 
> BTW, the duffel bag was similar to the one pictured in SK Magazine of Lone
> Madsen.

Yes, that photo was an eyecatcher for quite a few people I have talked
with regarding that story.

ralph diaz
-- 
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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